For the first time since the start of the war in the Middle East, France allowed American strategic bombers to fly through its territory on the way to Iran. Itamilradar was one of the first to report this on March 20. The information was confirmed by OSINT analyst OSINTtechnical and the Flightradar24 service.

According to Itamilradar, two B-52Hs and two B-1s flew through France. All aircraft took off from the British airbase at Fairford in the English county of Gloucestershire. As they took off, the bombers spotted cruise missiles.

Previously, American bombers, during flights from Great Britain towards the Middle East, avoided the airspace of continental Europe and flew through Gibraltar. As The Aviationist suggests , flight planners may not have previously applied to fly over European countries.

France did not join the US and Israeli war on Iran, but in early March it allowed American allies to use their bases in the Middle East.
Iran earlier in Marchcarried out a drone strike on a French military base in Iraq. As a result of the attack, one soldier was killed and several were injured.

France allowed American bombers flying to Iran to pass through its territory for the first time